Novel Ziziphus mauritiana biodiesel-fuelled DICI engine characteristics enhancement by camphor oil blend and EGR

Energy demand has increased gradually. Meeting the energy demand through available sources in the country leads to self-sufficiency. Alternate fuel production and implementation-based research have been more concentrated on encountering that demand for CI engine fuels. Here, transesterification produced biodiesel from the Ziziphus mauritiana seed oil is used. While running, the 5.2 kW CI engine with this new neat Ziziphus mauritiana biodiesel (ZMBD) has 8.7% lesser brake thermal efficiency and 4% and 33% higher NOx and smoke emissions than diesel at full load. Therefore, this biodiesel is blended with 10% and 20% by volume of camphor oil biofuel (COBF) to improve the performance. Also, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) of 10% and 20% is employed for the better result-produced blend. At full load, 80% ZMBD with 20% COBF blend produced 6.9%, 19.8%, and 15.3% increased brake thermal efficiency, maximum heat release rate, and NOx emission and also 19.05%, 23.73%, 5.78%, and 19.75% drop in CO, unburnt HC, CO₂, and smoke emission than ZMBD. With this blended fuel operation and 20% EGR employment is produced 52.99% reduction in NOx and a 13.96% reduction in smoke emission with 3.33% increased brake thermal efficiency compared to straight ZMBD. Therefore, this 80% ZMBD and 20% COBF blend with 20% EGR is recommended for the CI engine with improved performance and reduced NOx emission.

Graphical abstract